Friday, September 12, 2008

Flashback Friday!

Call me a sentimental fool and I'll answer, "Darn right I am!" I honestly can't watch this without tearing up.

He's right up there with Jim Henson & Charles Schultz, and I don't want to imagine what my childhood (or my "grown up years," for that matter!) would have been like without Mr. Fred Rogers.

It makes me happy, y'all. And I wanted to share it with you. Because it's you I like. Yeah, I said it.


Oh, who am I kidding? I didn't tear up. If you must know, I snotted and blubbered while watching this clip. Now I just wanna go home to Georgia, take a nap with my head in Mama's lap, then wake and drink Coke in a bottle and eat half a box of butter cookies. And how hard rockin' would it be if both He-Man and She-Ra were on for my viewing pleasure? Can I be nine again for just one day?

Happy weekend, everybody!
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This is just for Hot Tub Lizzy, solely because of the comment she left this morning. Four years ago we were at the Indianapolis Children's Museum, where they featured a very awesome Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood Exhibit. We were about to leave the museum when one of the employees asked, "Would you like to meet the actual Mr. McFeely?" To say I got excited is putting it mildly. He posed for a picture with Scott & Libbey (who was 2 1/2 at the time), then spent a few minutes talking with us. It made me happy!

When we thanked him and said good-bye, he tipped his hat and exclaimed "Speedy delivery!" I got a bit misty-eyed. My mother did, too...it was a very fine moment in our lives, just so y'all know!

42 comments:

I Love Purple More Than You said...

Mr. Rogers... AND He-Man AND She-Ra??? Oh my goodness, you ARE me all wrapped up in a Southern package.

My dad always sang the "I'm Proud Of You" song to me, but I think my favorite is, "You'll Never Go Down The Drain". And of course he was right. Mr. Rogers was ALWAYS right. Sigh.

Trish said...

No it's YOU I like.

Ahhhh, Mr. Rogers. He ranks just below my Heavenly Father and my earthly father as the men in my life who have shaped me to be the woman I am today.

Yep, everything I needed to know in life I learned from God, my dad and Mr. Rogers.

Anonymous said...

I luv Mr Rogers- for me it was cheetos and a coke- Man, I love him!

CaraBee said...

Oh, Mr. Rogers, you were such an important part of my childhood. He seems so old fashioned now compared to today's children's shows but I still love him. And it has to be the coke in the old fashioned curvy bottle that you pulled out of the coke machine.

Heather said...

My favorite was Woody Woodpecker and mayonaise crackers with buttermilk. What's that say about me?

Robin said...

Mr. Rogers was just one of "those men." He had such a gentle way about him. I loved to watch his show, along with Big Bird and the gang. I also liked Electric Co., found some clips on youtube a while back, and Whoa!!! It had a more adult friendly vibe. Don't remember that, but it was the 70s!!!

Michelle said...

Lula, sorry, can't go with this one. I guess I am more of a Elmo and Cookie Monster girl. One show I remeber as a child was Daktari with Erin Moran as Jenny Jones. I loved that show. You would love "my neighbor" he is just like Fred Rogers, even looks like him but his name is Stan. Have a good weekend.

ParentingPink said...

For the record...MR. ROGERS ROCKS! Oh, I miss him! LOL

Amy said...

Mr. Rodgers was so oddly innocent. When you compare him to Spongebob you feel a little uneasy.
Cute post.
Have a great weekend!

Unknown said...

Ah... Mr. Rogers... and your now-in-my-adult-hood-I'm-totally-creeped-out-by-his-name friend, Mr. McFeely.... And Lady Elaine... and the trolly... I loved it when he took out the little models in the kitchen... that was my favorite was to get to the Land of Makebelieve.

YOu know what else I loved? Electric Company. YOu can get it on Netflix.

Aunt Julie said...

I have a friend who's a high-powered, influential lawyer. He's got a lot of stress in his life. Every so often, he goes home after lunch, fixes a stiff drink, loosens his tie, kicks off his shoes, and tunes into Mr. Rogers re-runs. This is his fix for relaxation! BTW, I posted a quote from your BFF, Stephenie Meyer, today. Come on by!

Becky said...

I remember shortly after he died and there was a full page ad in people magazine that was simply a picture of his gym shoes...you know the ones that looked like the skipper's from Gilligans Island. The only words on the page said "no one can fill these shoes.." I teared up just at that!

OOhh...the electric companey was great too.

Lauren W said...

Oh man... I used to LOVE Mr. Rogers. In fact, even now, every time I see a crayon, I think about the episode when he toured a crayon factory. :D

Kori said...

Oh I so loved me some He-man and She-ra and oh Mr. Rogers was the greatest. I loved troller too and the little ding-ding when he would go forwards and backwards. Oh it was great.

I wanna be a kid again. When all my worries consisted of was not sleeping to late and missing the Saturday morning cartoons. WHen my Dad bought all the groceries, paid all the bills and made sure I had the most up to date fashions. Bongo jeans and body suits oh yeah. I so wanna be a kid again.

Cheryl said...

Mr Rogers is cool. But you have to add Electric Company and School House Rock to the mix.

Pinky Roth said...

Yes, I remember going to the Indianapolis museum and as I was reading your post, I was wondering if you would make a comment about it. I wish Libbey and Caroline could enjoy some Mr. Rogers as well! That was one show that was wonderful and innocent for little children. I loved seeing him at the beginning taking off his jacket and putting on his special sweater and tennis shoes...those were the days!

Mom

Mama Dawg said...

You totally nailed my childhood with this post. Mr. Rogers and She-Ra!

I wanna be a kid again!

Aubrey said...

Ah yes. Mr. Rogers. Good times.

Live.Love.Eat said...

You sure know how to bring a girl back to her childhood. Thank goodness because my memory really fails me, even with the things I loved so much. It's kinda awful. But hey, are you proud of me - I know whose birthday it is tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Bday Bella!!!

Britt said...

You got to meet Mr. McFeely?!

My eyes just turned a lighter shade of green .. from e.n.v.y :o)

I totally had a grandpa-crush on Mr. Rogers. Which means I wanted him as my grandpa. Not that I wanted to date a grandpa. Cause that would be .. well, weird. Unless that's your thing, and then more power to ya.

Mhm, yeppo this comment should end here. Thanks for the flashback!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

*sniff* i love Mr. Rogers. I didn't care for the imaginary puppet land though. Oh, and i totally had a crush on Mr. McFeely because getting mail is my life's passion! ;0)

ParentingPink said...

Just added you to my blogroll and also have an award for you to pick up over at my place when you get a chance! Have a great weekend!

Dawn said...

How cute!!! I LOVED Mr. Rogers!!!

Brandy said...

"Won't you be my neighbor?" I can hear it so clearly even 25+ years later...

That and sesame street were the poo-poo back then, even before Elmo hit the big time.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I loved Mr. Rogers. And Captain Kangaroo. Wish my kiddos had shows as wonderful that they would watch.

And look at you and your celebrity encounters. Paula Deen AND Mr. McFeely.

Maternal Mirth said...

I loved Mr. Rogers!

My favorite was Daniel Tiger ... still is.

I wish I was kid today and after your post, more than ever!

Unknown said...

SHUT. UP.

YOU FREEKING MET MR. MCFEELY??????

Yeah.... I'm in total love with you now... I mean, more than before, which one wouldn't think was possible BUT!!!

Insane Mama said...

I would have drooled if I met MR MCFEELY He was the wholer reason I watched that show! So by six degrees of separation do I know him too just like I now know Paula Dean?

Mrs. X said...

My brother used to cry every time he sang "Won't you be my neighbor?". He thought he really didn't have any neighbors and he felt sorry for him. =(

Thanks for the flashback, I'll have to call big bro!LOL

Rhea said...

I loved, loved, loved She-Ra and He-Man. She-Ra was the Princess of Power and had a flying horse and cool outfits. She totally rocked.

My packaged arrived today from you! I LOVE it!! I need to know the story behind the mug...

I'll post about it this week to say thanks. :o)

Angela said...

Hey, could you pass the Kleenex? I always get weepy when I watch Mr. Rogers. He was such an icon for me when I was little. I'm just so sad that our little ones now are missing out.

KatBouska said...

You've taken me right back to my childhood too. I totally watched He-man and She-ra...back to back.

Oh the old days.

S Club Mama said...

If we're up at 6:30, we turn the station to PBS & watch Mr. Roger's. I want Moose to have a love for that show, too. I know he likes the opening & closing songs.

Kelly said...

Weren't we so lucky to have this show growing up?! I've always loved Mr. Rogers...what a great man who dedicated his life to teaching children to be good to each other!!

I think I would have been just as excited as you were meeting Mr. McFeeley!!

Gina said...

Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?
I have always wanted to live in a neighbor hood with you,
I've always wanted to have a neighbor just. like. you.
So, lets make the most of this beautiful day,
since we're together we might as well say,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my nieghbor?
Won't you please?
Won't you please?
Please won't you be my neighbor?
Hello, neighbor.

From memory. Amen.

Debbie said...

I have to come back and catch up on your posts!

Gramma 2 Many said...

I absolutely loved Mr. Rogers. After all of the hype of Sesame Street and who ever else was on in the afternoon, Mr. Rogers was a calming soothing quiet you down for the evening show for my kids.
So Tricia, don't forget you may have learned it from God, your dad and Mr. Rogers, but I introduced you to all three of them:}
Gina, I heard you singing that song as I was reading it.
We started watching him when Bryan was little. He will not admit it, but we did. That would have been 41 years ago.

Anonymous said...

I hope you don't break up with me for this, but Mr. Rogers was never a favorite of mine. I did like Captain Kangaroo, but I don't remember anything about it, just that I liked it. You have such a vivid memory. I wish I could remember things.

Aunt Julie said...

BTW, I'm hosting a Recipe Week on my blog, starting tomorrow. Please stop by and see what's cookin'!

Tiffany said...

Paula Dean and Mr. McFeely. Geez, you are so lucky!

And, W and L are going to have THE CUTEST Kids!

Shelley said...

I love me some Mr. Rogers. I grew up with him and remain a devoted watcher to this day.
Such better times then, doncha think?

Angie's Spot said...

Oh how I long for the days of sitting on my grandad's lap while sipping Dr. Pepper from a bottle and munching on peanuts while watching Hee Haw. Such a simpler time.